integrating technology in personal financial literacy

Integrating Technology in Personal Financial Literacy

Alex WolfLoch Raven Academy/ Baltimore County

awolf@bcps.org

Why Teach Financial Literacy?

• “Great Recession” highlighted the need• Cannot rely on parents to pass on skills• Majority of Americans lack complete

understanding of key economic concepts.

What we teach at LRA• Magnet

– 75 students across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades– 6th grade’s focus is Personal Finance– 7th grade’s focus is Entrepreneurship– 8th grade’s focus is Global Finance

• School wide– Based on county curriculum– Delivered during ARE time

School Wide• ARE lessons are delivered to

instructional staff digitally• Presentation materials available in

PowerPoint and ActiveInspire formats• Minimal use of paper • Classroom activities as interactive as

possible

Engaging Students Through Tech

• Short instructional videos embedded each week– BrainPop Spotlight on Financial Literacy

• Student Response systems help engage the students

• Lab rotations

Lab Activities

Magnet Program• Students apply in 5th grade• Meets every other day for 80 minutes

for half the year• Students work collaboratively on many

assignments

Budget Activity

Stock Market Game• Teams of 3-4 students compete for 10

weeks• Start with $100,000• Research, buy, and sell stocks using

Internet portal• Track portfolios via mobile apps or web

resources

Stock Market Project• Maintain weekly digital journal of all

decisions for team portfolio• Maintain Excel for portfolio• Use Edmodo to communicate with team

members outside of class• Create final PowerPoint summarizing

portfolio performance

Value of real word financial data

• Comparing investment tools• Examining bank accounts• Tracking interest rates• Researching Credit Cards• Requesting Credit Ratings

Zapitialism.com

PNC Christmas Price Index• Calculated Annually• Fun way for the students to understand

PI concept

Mobile tech• Students may use personal devices for

finance research• Apps include Market trackers,

calculators, browsers, bank apps

Literacy Fair• Students work in groups to research

key financial topics– Credit, Banking accounts, Insurance,

Investing, etc• Information is presented is a “science

fair” format, with at least part of their presentation being computer based– PowerPoint or Video

Tablet program• For 2012-2013 school year• Each Law & Finance Magnet student

will be issued an Android tablet– Includes keyboard, webfilter, teacher

managed system• True 1 to 1• Paperless class

Thanks for staying!

Alex Wolfawolf@bcps.org